Syndicate

ARCADIA, Calif. (Jan. 14, 2009) – Even though 8-5 second-choice Royal Taat took the afternoon’s featured Sierra Madre Purse, upsets marked Wednesday’s Pick Six races at Santa Anita, resulting in a carryover of $103,255 into Thursday’s program, the seventh carryover in 15 days of racing this season.

After finishing off-the-board in the Grade III Monrovia Handicap on New Year’s Day, New Zealand-bred Royal Taat resumed her winning ways by closing strongly to run off with the $57,800 Sierra Madre for fillies and mares at 6 ½ furlongs over Santa Anita’s downhill turf course.

With Rafael Bejarano in the saddle, Doubledown Stables’ 5-year-old mare rallied on the extreme outside to overtake 11-10 favorite Moonshine Alice and win by 1 ¾ lengths with Eleto Nuclear another neck back in third. The winning time was 1:12.38.

As a result, Royal Taat gained her third victory in four United States starts following a fourth-place finish in her stateside debut last August at Del Mar. It was her second win over Santa Anita’s downhill course under Bejarano while employing come-from-behind tactics both times.

Lingering in the rear of a field of seven, Royal Taat benefited from rapid fractions coming down the hill. With Moonshine Alice taking over from early leader Lettre Spirituelle, the front-runners cut out early splits of 21.12, 43.06 and 1:06.33.

Nonetheless, Moonshine Alice, owned by a partnership that includes Los Angeles Dodgers manager Joe Torre, was able to maintain her record of consistency with three seconds and as many wins in six trips to the post.

Victorious Royal Taat, trained by John Sadler, bettered her overall record to 4-1-1 in 12 starts. The winner’s share of the purse, $34,200, elevated her career earnings to $114,783.

Mike Mitchell, Santa Anita’s defending training champion, connected with the only three horses he saddled Wednesday in the first two races and the fourth to gain a one-win lead over Jeff Mullins in the trainers’ standings.

First post for Thursday’s eight-race program is at 1 p.m. The Pick Six sequence begins with the third race.